Issue 072

February 2011

Muay Thai clinching is a sophisticated style of wrestling, combining kneeing and elbowing techniques with subtle upper body throws. The double collar tie is often referred to in MMA as ‘the Thai clinch’. Muay Thai clinching isn’t limited to this style, but this particular technique is unique to Muay Thai. The double collar tie, also called a ‘plum clinch’ should always be applied to the crown of the head, not the back of the neck, with your fingers pointing upward for maximum leverage.

KNEE SWEEP LATERAL TWIST FROM COLLAR AND BICEPS TIE-UP

1 Pete (black shirt) has Mikey in the plum clinch. Pete has his fingers pointing up, controlling the crown of Mikey’s head, not his neck.

2 Pete stops Mikey from wrapping his head by taking control of one of Mikey’s biceps.

3 Pete twists Mikey by pushing on the biceps tie and pulling on the collar tie, while he simultaneously knees Mikey’s left leg. Pete knees through Mikey’s leg, rather than onto it: his knee actually passes slightly under Mikey’s knee so that Pete’s leg lifts Mikey’s foot off the floor and overbalances him.

4 Pete doesn’t go down with Mikey, but keeps his own balance and turns to face him, keeping his chin tucked and looking out for an upkick from Mikey.

TURN AND KNEE

1 Pete has Mikey in the plum clinch with his head in tight.

2 Pete takes a step to pivot out to his right, then rags on Mikey’s collar to turn him. As he turns, Pete pulls down on the crown of Mikey’s head, forcing him to look down at the mat.

3 Pete delivers the knee to Mikey’s head.

THAI TWIST TAKEDOWN TO COUNTER A PLUM CLINCH

1 This time Mikey has Pete in the plum clinch.

2 Pete equalizes the grip by reaching around the back of Mikey’s head, placing his hand over Mikey’s far ear.

3 Pete steps around Mikey’s leg on the same side that he’s wrapped Mikey’s head. His hips face Mikey’s hips in a ‘T-position’ (at a 90-degree angle).

4 Pete pulls near Mikey’s far ear while simultaneously sweeping Mikey’s knee away. The force applied in two opposite directions, high and low, sends Mikey crashing to the mat with seemingly little effort.

5 Pete stops Mikey from going to his guard by controlling Mikey’s foot and knee-riding Mikey’s ribs.

BLOCKING KNEES AND LATERAL TWIST

1 Pete and Mikey have tied up in an over-under clinch. Pete uses his shin to block Mikey’s knees, placing his knee on Mikey’s hip thus locking it out. If Pete’s blocking leg is not exerting enough pressure it’ll only stop knees on the same side, but enough pressure will jam both of Mikey’s hips. Pete must also be aware that Mikey might attempt to pick up a single leg takedown.

2 Pete replaces his foot on the floor, close to Mikey with his hips in. Once again Mikey can’t knee with his weight loaded onto Pete’s hips. Note that Pete’s underhook is driving high.

3 Pete ‘pulses’ his hips, lifting up and then stepping back, removing the counterbalance for Mikey’s stance. Pete twists Mikey’s body, simultaneously pushing and lifting with the underhook and pulling on the overhook to send Mikey crashing to the mat.

4 Pete maintains his posture as he stands over Mikey, being careful not to be caught by an upkick.

PLUM CLINCH REVERSAL

1 Mikey has Pete in a plum clinch. Pete is struggling to maintain his posture.

2 Mikey succeeds in pulling Pete’s head position down so Pete equalizes quickly. He grips behind Mikey’s neck and rests his head on Mikey’s shoulder so that his own head won’t come any further down.

3 Pete places his shin across both of Mikey’s legs, just below the hips, preventing Mikey from kneeing.

4 Pete twists his shoulder, passing both of Mikey’s arms aside, freeing his own head from the plum clinch.

5 With Mikey’s head position low, Pete establishes his own double collar tie-up.

6 Pete is ideally positioned to deliver knees to Mikey’s face.